<p>Thanks northstarmom I will look into Rollins and thank you parents but for wants I am trying not to worry about money, but UF is my number 1 choice for that reason. I am just trying to see my options any other school. I like Rhodes (I really like there campus) .I also liked Flagler but it was too touristy.</p>
<p>As is the case with most students applying to colllege, you must keep the finances in mind. It is unrealistic to not consider costs while applying to college.</p>
<p>Also check out New College, known as Florida's "honor's college." It has about 800 students, and very much wants to attract minorities. I know someone whose son went there and now is working on his doctorate at Johns Hopkins, one of the country's top universities.</p>
<p>UF is becoming more and more difficult to gain entrance to, and scores are important there for admission. Fine to apply there, but use another in state public that's easier to get into as your safety.</p>
<p>Northstarmom is giving you really great advice! I'm certain you would get excellent scholarships from Rollins and Eckerd, even with your test scores. Rollins doesn't feel like a S. Fla. school...you really should check into it. </p>
<p>New College is also an excellent option, my daughter picked it over other out of state schools that she was offered scholarships to. You may have to work on your test scores and writing skills to get in.</p>
<p>I think it's great to put your application in to places you find interesting, but if you have graduate school in mind, you should try to pick a school that is in FL or one that gives you financial/merit aid.</p>
<p>NSM, good points about the economics of staying close to home.</p>
<p>Bahamas, I agree with NSM: as much as I value education, it is not a good move for your mom to max out credit cards and sell your house so that you can get your college education. Family members need (should?) to take care of each other but destroying her hard earned, hard won financial security is irresponsible. TheMom and I have skimmed some money that would otherwise have gone into retirements and we've taken loans that are equivalent of payments on a luxury car...and in our case, it's a sacrifice but not financial suicide.</p>
<p>I was wondering if Bahamas might not be interested in Oxford College of Emory--it is such a suppportive atmosphere for the first two years and the students have amazing opportunities. Emory financial aid is very generous and Bahamas would not get any loans in his aid package. His scores might not be too low for the Oxford campus and Emory is known to consider the applicants in a holistic fashion.</p>
<p>What about Agnes Scott College in Georgia? That way you are not TOO far from home and your family, will not have to buy winter clothes, but will still get the experience of going away.</p>
<p>"i really want a major university in a city but thanks too my poor test scores ,UF/fsu would prooly be the best i can do "</p>
<p>If you want a major university in a city, that means you don't want a LAC, which are small colleges usually in small cities, though there are a few exceptions about the size of the cities they are in.</p>
<p>If the sport that you love is football, I don't think many LACs have that sport. Usually, the sports they have include basketball and soccer.</p>
<p>Overall, given your background, I think you'd probably be happier and get a better education at a LAC than at a large university, where classes are huge, professors may not know you and you may even end up taking some courses by watching them on TV (as I hear happens with some courses at UF).</p>
<p>If you are Christian (or wouldn't mind being around lots of Christians) and would be willing to go far north to a Christian LAC in a relatively big city (not compared to Miami, but certainly compared to Bates), check out Calvin College. That's where my husband went (black male, first generation college, from Chicago). He got an absolutely excellent education from very caring professors, and afterward went to graduate school with a major national fellowship, and did very well in his career.</p>
<p>They have excellent need based aid, and are trying to attract more URMs, and may even be willing to fly you up to visit. My husband has kept in touch with the college -visited it this year -- and continues to be impressed with it. </p>
<p>It is rated very high in its region just as Rollins is in Fla.</p>
<p>If you wouldn't mind going to a Christian college (it is known as one of the more liberal of the Christian colleges), I think you'd be happier at Calvin than at a place like Bates, which is much more isolated, has a smaller proportionof minorities, and is in a very small, overwhelmingly white town. Grand Rapids is one of Michigan's largest cities and has diversity (not at the level of Miami's diversity, but far more than exists at Bowdoin and Bates).</p>
<p>Considering that you say you want a large university, and you want to major in poli sci and then go to law school, FSU would be a better school for you than UF. FSU is in the state capital, and that means internship possibilities as well as having poli sci teachers who may do consulting and other work for the state government. </p>
<p>If you really do want to go to a large college in a city, FSU would be probably the best one for you to attend given your goals. It also is very diverse. While Tallahassee isn't a large city like Miami, it has more going on than does Gainesville.</p>
<p>Actually, many LACs do have football, it's just Division III football (with a few exceptions). Division III schools do not, however, offer athletic scholarships.</p>
<p>2000 Census data on Lewiston, Maine does not reflect the big influx of Somali refugees, currently 10% of the population. This has made Lewiston the U.S. city with the highest % Somali population. It is a struggle for the Somalis, and there are still major cultural and language barriers, but Bates has a lot of excellent community service projects.</p>
<p>Lewiston is close to beautiful recreational areas, from mountains to the fabulous Maine coast.</p>
<p>Lewiston is also only about a half-hour to Portland, a very sophisticated and vibrant city, with an excellent music and art scene. From Portland, you can take the Amtrak train or the bus to Boston. </p>
<p>Why not apply to a school with great aid that is trying to recruit the OP?</p>
<p>The big three liberal arts colleges in Maine (Mainers call them - Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin - "the privates") have excellent need-based aid. We know one girl at Colby whose entire efc is her work-study. They even bought her a laptop. So such colleges may be extremely affordable and certainly less costly than Florida schools, including those in the state system.</p>
<p>To OP, I second much of what Northstarmom had said here. </p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with your aspiration of going to a highly regarded LAC such as Bowdoin or Bates, especially if your ambition is to attend a law school subsequently. That said, you do need to consider carefully whether you will do well at such settings. Students at Bowdoin and Bates are probably better prepared in math and in writing than average high school grads. These are essential skills for econ and politcal science majors. If you are serious about such places, make a visit to get a feel of class room dynamics as well as getting hold of some writing samples from these classes. The elite LACs provide summer courses in science, math and writing to incoming students who need them. These colleges also have math and writing centers to help out students during the school year. If you think that your writing skill can be vastly improved with better instruction, then you stand a good chance of doing well at these colleges.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Bates is consistently ranked one of the best value colleges and noted as a college that gives the most financial aid. If they want him and he qualifies, I would say he could potentially get a full ride there, plus even some money for books and travel expenses. I would not rule it out based on costs. Apply and then see what your choices are. I know they give full rides to qualified candidates. I know they have a good football team and also a very competitive track team. They don't give "athletic scholarships" per se, but don't think for one second if someone is a skilled athlete it does not factor in to the equation for aid.</p>
<p>The claim that athletes receive anything other than the normal need-based aid at NESCAC schools is simply wrong as a matter of fact.</p>
<p>
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a full time job ( 35+ ) since summer of 10th grade
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</p>
<p>Wow, you work 35+ hours during the academic year? Impressive!</p>
<p>Bahamas363,
When I was in high school I worked 4-9 Mondays through Fridays and 8 hours each on Saturdays and Sundays. When it was time to go to college I asked my mother, a single parent, if she would help me by signing a parent loan. I didn't realize it but financially she was unable to do so at the time. She was, however, very excited that I wanted to attend college so she offered all that she had. She allowed me to live at home, without cost, so I could commute to college. I majored in Poltical Science and graduated with honors. I went on to professional school and I have a wonderful career. YOU CAN DO THIS! (PM me.)</p>
<p>I think the advice vis a vis financial matters that the OP is getting on this thread are great.</p>
<p>But I also think that we're ignoring where he can actually get in. Sure he was invited to apply to Bates, but that doesn't mean he's going to get in. At all. And Bowdoin is considerably more competitive.</p>
<p>Back tracking to area colleges where costs could be lower (tuition and transport), and admission more likely makes more sense, I think.</p>
<p>He is a black kid looking at Northeastern LAC's. He has a significant advantage over many applicants.</p>
<p>Add in the amount of time on EC's, I think he has a shot at many top/near top schools.</p>
<p>As a black kid who applied to northeastern LACs and who had friends who applied, I can safely tell you that the advantage is really for students who are qualified. The OP is barely qualified. Scores of 600 in each SAT section would put him towards the bottom of Bowdoin's pool, but they would be much more likely to accept him.</p>
<p>A 24 ACT is not competitive at Bowdoin. It is, however, competitive at Eckerd.</p>
<p>Contrary to popular belief, there are enough high achieving (ie on the same level as white/asian counterparts) black students to fill out the average percentage of black seats in an Ivy League/LAC class.</p>
<p>I think we are doing the OP a disservice by a) getting his hopes up and b) steering him away from schools, like Eckerd, that could give him full rides.</p>
<p>I am just wondering how you played two varsity sports, worked 35 hours a week, and did 500 hours of volunteer work while taking a full courseload... do you not sleep?</p>
<p>I know that Middlebury accepts near 70% of black applicants.</p>
<p>And with those types of things taking up his time, I think that will help him too. AND he is low income.</p>
<p>Perhaps I'm wrong(very possible), but I think that he at least has a shot at many high end schools.</p>